The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-01
EXECUTION OF MRS. DRUSE.
She Walks Unaided to the ScaffOld and
Retains Her Composure to the End.
She Leaves a Confession, in Which She Claims
that Charles Gates and Others Not Named
Instigated Her to Commit the Crime.


last evening, Mrs. Druse remained up until
about ii z. NJ. Deputy Sheriff BARLEY Manion,
with AIR. and Mrs. Waterman, the death watch,
induced her to lie down, and she had about an
hours quiet sleep. She awakened with start.
and upon arising, began to write letters as
calmly as she had at any time during her in
generation. They were follows:
HERKIMER, II. " Feb. %, 1887.
Kind Sir--You have given me even more privileges
than could have expected under the circumstances,
and desire to express my sincere thanks and grati-
tude for your kindness and your family For this no
doubt you will pass many pleasant hour, besides
have clear conscience that you have been kind to
Mrs RoxALANA DRUsE.
Mrs. Druse gave the following to Sheriff Cook:
HERKIMER N. Y. Feb %, 1887.
Kind Sr-If it is to be my sad fate to die soon.
therefore venture to make this request to youthac as
life has gone from my body that will place
it in charge of him who has been friend to the last
Rev. G. w. Powell, and that he alone, minister OF
the gospel be present at my death and ocate at my
funeral if 1 permitted to have Christian burial.
Please grant me this request in your own handwrit
ing, MRS. r. DRUSE
After writing, Mrs. Druse lay down again and
fell into doze. She was attacked with hysteria
in violent form. and it required considerable
effort on the part of the watchers to arouse and
calm her. During the night she ate one of the
heartiest meals that she had partaken of since
she was prisoner. She had about two hours
Of rest after A. NJ. but did not sleep soundly.
One of her first visitors, this morning. was
Superintendent Irving Terry. of the Onondaga
penitentiary, who brought farewell letter from
her daughter Mary. who is life prisoner, and a
bouquet of flowers. This visit had most ex-
citing effect upon Mrs. Druse. Her death watch
Mrs. Waterman, who had maintained herself
admirably throughout, affected to tears.
and for some minutes all were affected in the
same manner. Rev. DR.. Powell visited Mrs
Druse about 9 A. NJ, and did all in his power to
calm her and prepare her for the awful moment
She ate no breakfast, but partook of stimulating
| medicine prepared by the Jail physician, DR.
Guy. Her counsel H. Dwight Luce made his
parting visit with her about 10 o'clock this morn
| Ing, and this again upset her temporarily. but
she soon rallied and appeared as firm and COM
| posed any one.
After the terrible blizzard of Sunday. the
| morning opened bright, with the mercury about
| ten degrees above zero. Every road leading into
| the towsn w>Ns dotted with sleighs, crowded with
| fur-coai\d men and not few women. Captain
John BuNonA and the Thirty first separate com
pany, NaNonA Guards, sixty-four muskets,
| came down Eron\ Mohawk at A. NJ. and were
| quartered in the courthouse. Details were
posted about the Jail to reinforce the deputies
| who had been on duty since A. M. on the ex-
| terror of the Jail The crowd in the village in
| OF the extreme cold men, women and children
stood about the streets surrounding the Jail.
| satisfied to look at the officials they passed in
| and out of the building to Sheriff Cooks Office
| in the court house. on the opposite side of the
| street No one was permitted to pass the lines
| without displaying his badge or authority as
| deputy The execution was witnessed by TWEEN
| ty-hve persons, including the officials
| O'clock ia
| into the iail-yard while Sheriff Cook, Under
| sheriff Rice and the deputies and physicians
4 proceeded to Mrs Druses cell. When they
I reached there Mrs. Druse sat weeping and hold
4 ing Mary's bouquet in her hands, and wearing
| some of her flowers about her breast Mrs.
Waterman. her death watch, stood by her side,
| sobbing. Rev. Dr. Powell SAT in front OF her.
| while her counsel, H Dwight Luce, Chaplain
Durston and the deputies and physicians stood
| about the door of the cell Sheriff Cook began
| reading the death warrant and respite of Gov
ernor Hill at 1887 A. NJ. Mrs. Druses pulse
| was eighty at l1:42 Just before the march to
| the gallows was commenced it raised to ninety.
To those who offered to assist Mrs Druse in
| arising. DR.. Powell said: "She will bear her
| self WE'LL and does not need any assistance
Sheriff Cook and Undersheriff Rice led the pro
l'cession, followed by Rev. DR.. Powell, Mrs
| Druse and the physicians and deputies. Mrs.
! Druse was dressed in black cashmere. with lace
| edging the. neck and sleeves She wore q
small shawl over her shoulders that was loaned
|
| high, sharp wind prevailed that caused the
deputies and other witnesses to suffer severed!
in the zero temperature The crowd about the
court house and Jail was very quiet and orderly
throughout At Hap Mrs. Druse and DR.
Powell knet on the floor of the scaffold unde
the rope. Mrs. Druse held her daughters bou
quet in her hand, and closed her eyes while DR.
Powell offered PRAYER She then asked i
Dr. Powell who thanked God and all thos
who had been kind to her. and implore'
all of her enemies to forgive her she forgav
all. DR.. Powell then pressed Mrs. Druse's han'
and left the jail-yard, carrying Mary's bouque
with him. Deputy William Mckinley pinlone
Mrs Druse's arms knees and feet. She main
tanned her composure, and was firm until Deput
Ballou but the black cap on her head and ad
justed the rope Deputy Manion, who stood a
, the right then bid her goodbye she turne
and, looking into his eyes. smiled and presse
his hand. Deputy Ballou adjusted the noos
under and back of Mrs. Druse's left an
pulled the cap over her face Mrs. Drus
moaned cried and finally shrieked so loudly tina
her voice was heard in the Jail and street adior
ing. Sheriff Cook dropped his hand over hi
! breast and Deputy Ballou sprung the trap. Th
2 2I3- pound weight dropped at 11:48 o'clock A. NJ
, and the woman's body was lifted about tire
, feet above the floor of the gallows There wa
but one CONFUSION muscular contraction c
the body and the body then hung quiet.
Mrs. Druse's death, under the judgment of tn
law, was far more easy and merciful than wa
tnaG OF her vlcllfn. ner AusUanu, III becouoel
1884 Drs Kay and Suter took observations
the woman's pulse and heart during the time sh
was hanging. They pronounced her dead a
1908 P. M but the body was left hanging unit
/, l2l4-twenty- six minutes after the weight fel
r when it was taken down by order of the sheriff
t Upon examination the surgeons declared thu
e her neck was not broken and that death VIZ
a caused by strangulstion.
r Rev. DR.. Powell re-entered the jailyard ar
t took possession of the remains of Mrs. Drus
in compliance with her request The cask,
was in coffin form, with silver-plated trimming
and an ornament consisting of hand graspir
a bunch Of flowers on the top. The expressic
{ of the face of the dead woman gave no Indicate
g that Mrs Druse had suffered any pain.
@ County Judge Smith did not enter the ja